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Sunday, September 9, 2018

FUNDAMENTAL THINGS OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

FUNDAMENTAL THINGS OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE 


"Ye turned . . . to serve . . . and to wait" 1 Thess. 1:9, 10


This letter is full of interest because it is certainly among the first of those which have been preserved for us from the pen of Paul. It was the first he wrote to EUROPEAN CHRISTIANS, and in it the FUNDAMENTAL THINGS OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE are very clearly set forth. The words we have taken necessarily need their context for full interpretation, but taken out in this way they help us to see, in sharp outline, WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A CHRISTIAN. This is especially so if they are read in connection with an earlier description, that in which the Apostle spoke of their "work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope." The 1st thing in Christian life is that of TURNING TO GOD: that is the "work of faith." The WHOLE COURSE OF THAT LIFE is that of SERVING THE LIVING GOD: that is "the labor of love." The persistent attitude of those who, thus TURNED TO GOD, are SERVING HIM is that of WAITING FOR HIS SON: that is “the patience of hope." It follows that here we have standards by which we may test ourselves constantly, to turn back to idols, such for instance as "covetousness which is idolatry," is to turn from God. To do that, is inevitably to SLACKEN IN SERVICE therefore slackness in service should ever give us serious concern. To CEASE TO WAIT FOR THE SON IS TO LOSE THE MOST POWERFUL INSPIRATION TO LOYALTY, and the most urgent reason for SERVICE. Notice that the true expression of our HAVING TURNED TO GOD is that of our SERVING HIM; and so also is SERVICE the true way in which TO WAIT FOR THE SON FROM HEAVEN.

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